Vivienne
Handy, PWS, the President and Principal Ecologist
for Quest Ecology, is a certified Professional Wetland Scientist
(P.W.S.) possessing over 22 years of experience in natural resource
management and environmental regulation. A significant portion
of Ms. Handy’s career experience has consisted of conducting
and managing field studies and impact assessments, permitting
and environmental documentation for a wide variety of projects
and clients, from roadway and bridge studies to mine reclamation
projects. Ms. Handy has managed large and small scale projects
involving wetland impacts, mitigation design, habitat management
and listed species issues throughout the state.
W.
David Gordon, as Senior Wildlife Ecologist, Mr.
Gordon is responsible for wildlife and habitat studies, protected
species surveys and relocations, and habitat management planning
and implementation. David’s over fourteen years of experience
includes development of field sampling methodologies, banding/marking,
relocations and behavioral studies of reptiles, birds and mammals,
preparation of habitat management plans, permit coordination and
compliance, and wetland mitigation design, construction, and monitoring.
Mr. Gordon is a Master Bird Bander (#23160).
Laura
Morris, PWS, Senior Ecologist, has over fourteen
years of experience in environmental consulting and project management.
Laura is proficient in wetland delineations, ecological and environmental
assessments, mitigation monitoring and site management, protected
species surveys, statistical analysis, photo-interpretation, water
quality monitoring, federal and state environmental permitting,
and development and management of project databases. Laura has
become well known in the field for her botanical expertise and
field data collection skills.
Lee
Cook, MS, PWS, Senior Ecologist, has over sixteen
years of experience in ecosystem analysis, environmental permitting,
wetland delineation, and wildlife studies. Lee worked as a Wetlands
Biologist in the Regulatory Program of the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers for over nine years, conducting jurisdictional determinations
over Waters of the U.S., as well as extensive field reviews for
DOA permit applications. Ms. Cook’s areas of specialization
include wetland wildlife management, hydric soil identification,
conservation biology, and herpetology. Lee’s project experience
includes permitting for large scale development and mining projects,
protected species surveys, and herpetofauna relocations.
Lauren
Deaner, Ecologist, joined Quest Ecology in 2005
and brings a unique background with a degree in Wildlife Conservation
and Entomology. Specializing in wildlife, Lauren has experience
monitoring a wide array of both listed and non-listed species
in a variety of habitats. She also has experience in habitat and
land use mapping, wetland mitigation monitoring, data collection
and statistical analysis, and technical writing. Lauren’s
project experience includes arthropod surveys to determine food
availability for translocated burrowing owls, Florida mouse trapping
and tagging, Florida scrub-jay radio-telemetry tracking, and migratory
bird mist net surveys. Ms. Deaner is a Master Bird Bander (WB06329).
Mike
Pshar, Ecologist, has three years of environmental
consulting experience in Florida, performing ecological assessments,
water quality sampling, seagrass surveys, wildlife surveys, wetland
monitoring, vegetation and hydrologic data collection, and preparation
of technical reports. Mike’s project experience includes
assistance with over 100 wetland delineations; gopher tortoise
permitting and relocations; and estuarine community assessments,
including surveys of seagrass beds, hard bottoms, and benthic
communities.
Sean
Murray, Ecologist, has over four years of experience
in environmental consulting and five years of experience in biological
and ecological research. He has extensive experience in the management
and restoration of wetland habitats and aquatic environments.
Much of this experience has involved pre- and post- permitting
studies on herbaceous and forested wetlands and stream systems,
including the maintenance and monitoring of wetland mitigation
areas; stream flow and water quality monitoring; and oversight
of permitted construction activities within wetlands.
Autumn
Schwab, MA, GIS/Environmental Specialist, joined
Quest Ecology in late 2006. As part of the Quest team, she provides
GIS support on a wide range of projects involving research, data
collection, data analysis and database development in support
of environmental permitting, watershed studies, habitat restoration
and management, and wildlife population studies. Autumn’s
graduate research focused on GIS, environmental science, and spatial
ecology, and her thesis, The Influence of Roads on the Florida
Panther, was nominated by USF for the Outstanding Thesis and Dissertation
Award in the Fall of 2006.
Melanie
Higgins, Public Involvement Specialist and Marketing
Coordinator, has over twelve years of professional and volunteer
experience in a wide range of areas from website development to
grant writing, to community outreach planning. Melanie is proficient
in public meeting planning and execution, and design and creation
of presentation materials, and has been actively involved in environmental
education programs for many years.